Mounting uhf antenna on defender wing top

[defender_i_hardly_know_er]

What do you think of installing this antenna on the plastic blank cover on my defender's wing top?

Flexi UHF CB Flexible Dipole Antenna 3nu llGa inSui tsG MEUnid enOric omIc | eBay

(for people from the future that might click on this thread, it's a fairy short 3db antenna)

I'm only interested in talking to people that might be in convoy or something - it's not like I'm crossing dunes - but most antenna's are way longer than this one - but I have no idea what is adequate and what is excessive especially in that position on the car.

[chopper]

it would be better if it were earthed onto a metal "ground plane"

[defender_i_hardly_know_er]

Hmm ok I've spent the last 15 mins researching... so forgive me if I'm way off the mark... Thinking about fibreglass boats not much metal there and they have radios.

The one in the ebay link is "ground independent"

and on this page:

http://www.gme.net.au/public/pdf/brochures/antenna2_b.pdf


Mounting positions
An antenna needs a large uniform metal surface
beneath the radiating elements to perform
correctly. This is referred to as a ‘ground plane’.
Therefore the best position to install an antenna
is in the centre of a metal roof, however, this is
not always possible and installation on a bull bar
or mirror mount is often necessary. In this case a
‘ground independent’ antenna should be used
to give the antenna its desired radiating pattern
without a metal ground plane

So I think maybe it's not ideal but workable?

[chopper]

It should be right then , and you have successfully answered your own question. I only thought it would be "better" , not compulsory.

[Don 130]

That little plastic cover is not very strong.
Don.

[HowardSmall]

True. I had an aluminium checker plate made to the same dimensions as the plastic one. It supported a heavy duty spring and 9 foot HF antenna without any problems.

If you use a gpi antenna it makes no difference being mounted on plastic, in free space or whatever.

Howard

That little plastic cover is not very strong.
Don.